LONDON(RAHNUMA): Jordan condemned the “provocative and reckless” storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem by a group of Israeli settlers.
On Sunday, settlers raised Israeli flags on the steps leading to the Dome of the Rock, chanting and singing the Israeli national anthem under the protection of the police. They entered the compound from Al-Maghrabah Gate, which is fully controlled by Israeli authorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Jordan’s absolute rejection and strong condemnation of the continued incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers, according to the Petra news agency.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, has witnessed frequent clashes — including Israeli settler raids and restrictions on Muslim worshippers — since East Jerusalem was occupied in June 1967.
The mosque is administered by Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, which holds the legal authority to manage the compound and control access. Jordan cautioned against settlers’ efforts to create a new reality that would temporally and spatially divide the landmark.
Settlers, who refer to the area as the Temple Mount, seek to establish a presence in the compound to perform Jewish prayers at certain times. Several Israeli ministers publicly endorsed these plans, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister.
